What's included here
Eight informal German words and expressions you're likely to encounter in everyday conversation. We'll explain what they mean, show you how they're used in context, and point out which ones are casual enough that you might want to avoid them in more formal situations.
You can spend years learning German and still find yourself confused by a conversation between two friends.
Not necessarily because they're speaking too quickly, but because they're using expressions that don't always appear in your German textbook.
Things like Kein Plan, Alter or Das ist der Hammer!
German slang and colloquial expressions are an important part of everyday spoken German. They can help you understand conversations, recognise different speaking styles and make your own German sound more natural.
But there's a distinction worth making: slang and colloquial German aren't quite the same thing.
Colloquial expressions are simply part of informal, everyday language. Slang is usually more closely associated with particular social groups, generations or situations.
The eight expressions below include a mixture of both, from widely used conversational phrases to more distinctly informal words.
Note
If you're interested in the slightly less polite side of the language, our guides to German swear words and German insults cover that too!
1. Alles klar – Okay / Got It
Alles klar is one of those expressions you'll hear all the time in German.
Literally, it means "everything clear", but in everyday conversation it can mean "okay", "alright" or "got it".
It's often used to confirm that you've understood something or agreed to a suggestion.
For example:
Note
You can also use Alles klar? as a casual way to ask whether everything is okay or understood.
When to use it: Very common in everyday conversation. It's informal but not particularly slangy, and it's useful in a wide range of situations.
2. Ist mir egal – I Don't Care / I Don't Mind
Ist mir egal is a common way to say that something doesn't matter to you.
It's a shortened form of Das ist mir egal, and you'll hear it frequently in spoken German.
For example:
Depending on your tone and the situation, Ist mir egal can sound either relaxed or dismissive.
If you're deciding what to eat with a friend, it might simply mean that you don't have a preference, but if someone is telling you about a problem and you respond with Ist mir egal, it can sound a bit rude.
When to use it: Common in informal conversation, but pay attention to your tone. If you want to sound more considerate, Mir ist beides recht ("Either is fine with me") can be a good alternative when choosing between two options.
3. Nicht mein Bier – Not My Problem / None of My Business
Now here's a particularly German-sounding expression!
Literally, nicht mein Bier means "not my beer".
It's an idiomatic expression used to say that something isn't your concern or responsibility.
For example:
The expression is quite casual and can sound dismissive, depending on the situation. It's similar to saying "not my problem" or "none of my business" in English.
When to use it: Informal conversations, particularly when you want to distance yourself from a situation. Probably not the best response when your colleague asks you to help with an urgent problem!
4. Kein Plan – No Idea
Kein Plan is a casual way to say that you don't know something or have no idea what to do.
It's short for expressions such as Ich habe keinen Plan, although the standalone Kein Plan is particularly common in informal speech.
For example:
You can also use it when you don't understand how something works.
It's a useful expression, although you probably wouldn't use it in a formal presentation to explain why you haven't prepared anything 😅
When to use it: Casual conversations with friends, family or people you know well. For a more neutral alternative, you can simply say Ich weiß es nicht ("I don't know").
5. Geht klar – Sure / Sounds Good
Geht klar is another casual expression used to agree to something or confirm that an arrangement works for you.
It's similar to "sure", "okay" or "sounds good" in English.
For example:
You might have noticed that Geht klar and Alles klar have similar meanings.
And you're right!
Both can express agreement, but they're not always interchangeable.
Alles klar often confirms that you've understood something, while Geht klar commonly indicates that something is acceptable or can be arranged.
When to use it: Informal everyday conversations, especially when making plans or agreeing to a request.
6. Quatsch – Nonsense / Rubbish
Quatsch is a wonderfully useful German word.
It means "nonsense" or "rubbish" and is often used when you think something is ridiculous, untrue or doesn't make sense.
For example:
You might also hear someone say Quatsch! on its own, particularly when disagreeing with something.
But Quatsch doesn't always have to sound negative.
The verb quatschen is a casual way to say "to chat", and Quatsch machen means "to mess around" or "to be silly".
When to use it: Very common in spoken German. It's informal but widely understood, and the tone can range from playful to quite dismissive.
7. Hammer – Amazing / Brilliant
You probably already know that der Hammer is the German word for "hammer", as in the tool.
But in informal German, Hammer can also be used to describe something impressive, extraordinary or surprising.
For example:
You might also hear hammer used as an informal adjective:
One thing to remember is that Hammer isn't always positive!
Das ist ja der Hammer! can also express disbelief or outrage, depending on the context.
For example, you might say it after hearing that someone has been charged a crazy amount of money for a coffee.
When to use it: Informal conversations when reacting enthusiastically to something, or expressing surprise. It's a well-established colloquial expression rather than particularly new youth slang.
8. Alter – Dude / Man
Alter is a very informal German expression, similar to "dude", "man" or "mate" in English.
It's often used when addressing someone or reacting to something surprising.
For example:
You might also hear it used on its own as an exclamation.
The word comes from alt ("old"), but in this context it isn't literally referring to someone's age.
It's particularly associated with casual, familiar speech and can sound quite overly familiar in the wrong situation.
When to use it: Very informal conversations, especially among friends. It's useful to recognise, but not something you should start saying to your boss, your German teacher or a complete stranger!
What's the Difference Between German Slang and Colloquial German?
Although people often use the terms interchangeably, there's a useful distinction between slang and colloquial language.
Colloquial German (Umgangssprache) refers to the informal language people use in everyday conversation. It includes shortened expressions, conversational phrases and vocabulary that might sound out of place in formal writing.
German slang (Slang) is a more specific kind of informal language, often associated with particular social groups, generations or cultural settings.
Where to Go From Here
These eight expressions are a good introduction to the more informal side of German. Once you start recognising them in conversations, you'll probably notice plenty of others.
If you're interested in how German borrows and adapts English words, have a look at our guide to Denglisch. You'll come across expressions like gechillt, geleakt and gegoogelt.
And for vocabulary that's useful in a wider range of situations, explore our German vocabulary lists.
The more German you listen to, the more familiar these expressions will become!